Tyner, Schreibman hold one and only debate

NEW PALTZ — As much as the candidates themselves, the specters of two incumbents dominated a Monday debate between Democrats hoping to represent a new congressional district in the Hudson Valley.

There’s Maurice Hinchey, the retiring incumbent from the 22nd district who inspires reverence within his party’s liberal wing, and Rep. Chris Gibson, the Republican representing the 20th district. He’ll face off against next Tuesday’s primary winner in November.

The candidates themselves cast the election as progressive stalwartness against electability.

“I will beat Chris Gibson and make a 180-degree change in representation for our communities,” saidJulian Schreibman, a Kingston attorney and former Ulster County Democratic chairman.

But his challenger says he comes short of offering voters a full-fledged pivot, failing to fully embrace progressive stances.

“You have a choice to send someone to Washington who’s going to pick up the torch,” said Dutchess County Legislator Joel Tyner, an ardent progressive. “Maurice Hinchey has that torch now; Julian’s not carrying that torch.”

The men faced each other during the first and only Democratic primary debate in the newly formed 19th Congressional District, which covers the Hudson Valley and Catskills as well as parts of Rensselaer and Montgomery counties. The forum was held at the Woodland Pond retirement community in New Paltz in a private event that was streamed live by a local newspaper.

Though Schreibman and Tyner outlined many stances they share, such as defending Obamacare, reining in military spending as well as opposing hydraulic fracturing, unregulated free trade, continued military operations in Afghanistan and affronts to women’s health rights, Tyner contends that he has and will do more to advanced progressive values.

Tyner sought to use his consistent support of anti-fracking measures, single payer healthcare, and reviving the Glass-Steagall Act — which prevented banks and stock trading firms from merging — to distinguish himself from Schreibman, who has attracted more money and support from the party establishment.

He criticized Schreibman for being too slow to admit his opposition to fracking and for offering measured solutions to healthcare affordability and corporate greed. Schreibman said his stances are no less firm, but he admitted, Monday, that electability was a key concern.

“We are now running in a brand new swing district with a Republican incumbent” he said. “We have never been in this situation before; the consequences of this election are critical.”

Tyner pointed out that Ulster County Democrats lost control of the County Legislature under Schreibman’s leadership, and alleged that a large portion of the funds propping up Schreibman’s campaign have come from insurance companies and Wall Street investors, undermining his credibility with voters.

“We are making miracles happen on a shoestring,” said Tyner of his own campaign. “Send this pain-in-the neck, S.O.B., troublemaker to Washington to turn Congress upside down.”

Audience questions drew the candidates away from the core issues of the campaign, and consequently, a bit further from their talking points.

Responding to a question about political dissent, Tyner expressed solidarity with Army Private Bradley Manning, who is accused of sending classified material to Wikileaks, while Schreibman said the federal government must tread carefully as it works to protect whisteblowers. Asked about Medicare coverage of “alternative treatments,” Schreibman said the benefits of such treatments must be studied and confirmed, compared to Tyner’s unabashed “yes.”